Side Exhaust Installation sanity check.

[Scott Marzahl]

I am having the worst time installing this set of side exhaust from Stainless Works on my '67. The passenger side fits perfect, the pipe is equal distance along the length of the frame and clears the frame when it runs underneath it from the engine by about 3/4". Now the drivers side is a different story. In order to clear the frame as it runs below, I need to position the pipe down in the front so that it contacts the frame on the side just after it makes its 90 degree bend to the rear. I am only able to get about 1/8" clearance under the frame that way. If I position the pipe so that it has equal distance along the length of the frame it has full contact with the frame as the pipe runs beneath it. Either way it hits. The manufacturer said these are all CNC bent per the original pipes etc. They are willing to make a new section of head pipe for me. I just wanted a sanity check from the board before I do that.

Thanks for the input.

[Joe R.]

Re: Side Exhaust Installation sanity check.

Scott,

The silence here is bursting my eardrums! I'm not familiar with stainless works or the quality of their work. I have used many GM side pipes with no trouble and also Allens Stainless Steel works great.

Me thinks the pipe is bent wrong! Even a CNC machine can screw up every once in a while. The machine only knows how it's loaded and maybe someone put a pipe just a little short in the machine.

I would contact the manufacturer and ask for their assistance. I'm sure they are eager to please.

Regards,

JR

[David N.]

Re: Side Exhaust Installation sanity check.

Scott,

First, I am not a midyear corvette owner. That said, I have a '69 BB with NOS sidepipes on it. It was an original GM factory sidepipe car. Does your '67 have the heat riser installed or at least a heat riser "bypass"(no butterfly valve with spring and counterweight" that adds about another 1 1/2 to 2 inches to the bottom of the passenger side. Does the driver's side have the CORRECT exhaust manifold for you engine and sidepipe combination? You do not say if it is a SB or BB. Check the left side exhaust manifold for the GM part number and either check an NCRS midyear Corvette Specifications Guide by John Amgwert available at the NCRS store or come back here to the tech. board with your further information for additional help.

David Nims '69 BB conv. both tops member #19639~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Scott Marzahl]

Thanks

Thanks for the input. It is a 327 with the correct manifolds and heat riser installed. After looking at my neighbors 66 with a NOS set of pipes it does look to be made incorrect. I do not believe the "head pipe" goes down far enough before making a bend to go under the frame.

[Craig S.]

Re: Thanks

Personally I would make them replace the whole lefside pipe/muffler and not just weld a new headpipe on as they are suggesting....Craig

[Rob A.]

Re: Side Exhaust Installation sanity check.

I would insist they re-make the entire pipe also. Perhaps they can run an original through their machine again and recalculate the correct, original bends. I assume they use an original to initially set up the bends, but over time, I think the calculations get out of wack. I wouldn't waste any more of your time and let them know your manifold(s) and heat riser are correct and have them make arrangements to have this one picked up at their expense when they deliver the new, and hopefully correctly made one.

[Mike Cobine]

Save yourself hassle

Of course, do you have all the gaskets and the sections in at the manifold? Some exhausts run a short inner pipe that prevents the gasket from collapsing inside and this will space the pipe down about a half inch or so.

Is your engine sitting square or leaning one way? Is your frame bent? Not a bad idea check first instead of eating crow.

When you call them to have them send you a new pipe, tell them you have already compared this one to an original and it is off. Eliminate the possibilty that you are doing something wrong from the start. They are probably a great company to deal with, but don't settle for piece together items. You pay far too much for these pipes to have one spliced together with pieces.

Heck, if you wanted pieces, you can run down to Pep Boys and buy pieces of pipe to make your own.

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: Save yourself hassle

Thanks Mike, beleive me I have done all this. I'm doing a frame off so I started with a perfect bare frame. I've had the engine hanging from a lift and moved it around ever so slightly within the limits of the brackets. Actually the first guy I dealt with said I had to be mistaken since these were CNC, patterned from an original, blah blah blah. The second guy was a little more willing to listen however stated that they couldn't beleive thay made a bad piece etc, and they would charge me for a new section of pipe made to how ever I wanted! I've sent digital photos, and an engineering sketch I did yesterday showing all dimensions. I have a TIG and MIG so I don't mind welding it together, it's really pretty painless, however customer service should not be so difficult.

[Craig S.]

Re: Save yourself hassle

Scott - I hear you, I have the MIG etc too, but no way should you be going to this much trouble to fix their problem. They need more people insisting on replacments or they will continue to deliver bad product to others and not make the changes necessary to deliver a quality product. There are enough bad products out there and we need to make them loose money when they deliver those, that is the best way to make them fix the parts! Not ragging on you, just think we need to say no to junk parts and not give them outs.....Craig

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: Side Exhaust configuration

Can anyone confirm if the drivers side exhaust pipe should have a flat spot in it as it runs under the frame for clearance. I have seen them both ways, my buddies 66 has a flattened spot on his drivers side pipe and he believes them to be NOS pipes.

[Rob A.]

Re: Side Exhaust configuration

The side pipes on my '67 big block are NOS and have a flattened spot where it goes under the front of the outer splash shield on the driver's side.

[Scott Marzahl]

Thanks Rob *NM*